Archival sports car photos have a unique power to transport us back in time. Yet, even the most iconic shot captures only a sliver of reality. To truly grasp the depth of a moment, there’s no substitute for the firsthand accounts of those who lived it. Jacky Ickx, a living legend of motorsport, opens the door to his memories through three significant photographs, revealing the anecdotes and emotions behind these frozen-in-time events.
1986 Dakar Rally: A Life Lesson Beyond Competition
In 1986, Jacky Ickx, already celebrated for his endurance racing triumphs, tackled the Paris-Dakar Rally. His focus wasn’t solely on performance, but on the human experience and the discovery of grand landscapes. The Porsche 959, far from an obvious off-road vehicle, proved its mettle, dominating the event. Ickx and co-driver Brasseur secured a strong second place behind teammates Metge and Lemoyne.
This particular shot, taken near Zobaba in Niger, represents more than just a desert crossing for Ickx. The Dakar, in his view, was an intellectually formative period. It broadened his perspective, shifting from a win-focused mindset to an openness towards the world, its cultures, and its diversities. It was a lesson in humility and grandeur, far removed from the familiar circuits.
Jacky Ickx recalls: “This is a legendary photo. This is the Paris-Dakar, at a place called Zobaba, along the Kaouar, on the other side of the Ténéré Desert. You normally start from Agadez, cross the Aïr mountains, and head almost to Libya on the other side. It’s 550 kilometers. And there, along this cliff face, you find oases.”
“The Dakar has two aspects. First, it’s a sporting challenge. It’s perhaps the toughest in the world. You can’t cheat in the Dakar. The environment forces you to be humble. Back then, it lasted three weeks. So, it’s long. Twelve thousand kilometers of special stages, fourteen thousand kilometers of liaison – it’s simply immense. But there’s also the discovery aspect. Discovering other people who live differently, with different traditions. Personally, the Dakar was arguably the most important intellectual period of my life.”
Jacky Ickx during the 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally.
1985 Selangor: Endurance Pushed to the Limit
In 1985, Jacky Ickx’s final season in the World Sportscar Championship, the 800 km race in Selangor, Malaysia, offered a stark glimpse into the physical demands of the era. Alongside Jochen Mass in an official Porsche, Ickx and his teammate Derek Bell on the other Porsche are captured in a moment of precarious respite, their hands and feet submerged in ice baths to combat the tropical heat.
The photo encapsulates extreme dehydration and the constant battle against the elements. Without today’s onboard hydration systems, every sip was carefully rationed between driver changes. It’s a powerful image of the resilience required to perform under such extreme conditions, a hard-won victory for the Belgian marking the end of his career in the discipline.
Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell during the 1985 800 km Selangor race.
“Here, I was with Derek Bell, a great guy,” Jacky Ickx shares. “Between stints, we’d put our hands and feet in tubs filled with ice because it was incredibly hot, with unbelievable humidity. We were literally sitting in ice, with foot and hand baths, and we were glistening because we were sweating so much. You also have to understand that back then, there were no onboard water bottles: we only drank between driver changes. This photo shows absolute dehydration!”
1977 Le Mans: The Power of “Collective Sublimation”
The 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans etched a memorable chapter in the race’s history thanks to a spectacular comeback by the No. 4 Porsche 936, driven by Jacky Ickx, Hurley Haywood, and Jürgen Barth. Starting with a significant deficit due to mechanical issues, the crew defied expectations and the favored Renaults to clinch victory after an intense battle.
The photograph, taken behind the wheel of that iconic Porsche, symbolizes the strength of teamwork. Ickx speaks of “collective sublimation,” that moment when hope is rekindled and every team member—driver, mechanic, or strategist—pushes beyond their limits to believe in the impossible. A victory achieved not just through talent, but through shared faith.
According to Jacky Ickx: “You know, there are races where you’re expected to be the favorite, and you don’t win. And then there are races where everything seems lost, but you can still win. What’s extraordinary is that sometimes, you experience a kind of sublimation. Normally, you’re already at 100%, but then, you feel like everything is going to work out and you’re afraid of nothing.”
“In that race, I took the wheel after three hours. I got into the car with an eight-lap deficit, in 41st position. I thought it was over. But from then on, you become the hunter rather than the hunted. It’s fantastic when you have targets in front of you and you know you can gain positions. Every hour, you see the standings improve, and that motivates you. I drove practically all night, in the rain and fog. We gradually moved up, and in the end, we won.”
Jacky Ickx during the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Porsche 936/77.
“But what’s most interesting is that this sublimation is contagious. The other drivers in the car also start driving like demons. The mechanics, who usually take 4 minutes 50 seconds for a pit stop, do it in 3 minutes 30 seconds. The strategist, who thought it was over, starts believing again. That’s what’s fantastic: this transmission to others.”
Three Photos, Three Life Lessons
- The 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally offered Jacky Ickx a new perspective on the world, transcending the purely sporting dimension.
- The 1985 800 km of Selangor highlights the physical brutality of endurance racing in the past, demanding extraordinary resilience.
- The 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans victory embodies the power of “collective sublimation,” where shared belief enables overcoming the most compromised situations.
- These moments, captured by the lens, remind us that motorsport is also a school of life, where character is forged and wisdom is gained.
- Beyond the victories, it’s the lessons learned in adversity and shared experiences that leave the most lasting impact on a career and a life.
[il l’a effectivement gagnée, ndlr]
